The Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday announced it would take countermeasures against six US entities, including Applied DNA Sciences and geoscience research firm Stratum Reservoir.

The ministry has barred organisations and individuals within the country from "engaging in relevant transactions, cooperation, or other activities with them".

The six entities "have assisted and supported illegal US sanctions related to Xinjiang; the nature of their actions is egregious", the commerce ministry said.

It comes after the US imposed fresh tariffs on China and 59 other countries, adding to a series of recent trade measures.

The commerce ministry said its countermeasures, which took effect on Wednesday, were adopted in response to the United States' sanctions against Chinese companies under the pretext of so-called "forced labour".

The US actions "seriously harm China's legitimate rights and interests", a commerce ministry spokesperson added.

"China can only take necessary countermeasures in response, including strengthening export controls on drones, and their key components and technology to the US."

Beijing's measures also include suspending factory follow-up inspections by national certification bodies, blacklisting US compliance testing companies, and launching national security investigations into imports of office printers and copiers, according to the ministry.

Top trade official He Lifeng expressed "serious concern" about the fresh American tariffs to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a call over the recent restrictions, Xinhua reported.

Beijing also accused the United States last week of seeking to "suppress" Chinese companies, after Washington banned imports of humanoid and quadruped robots manufactured abroad in a move separate from the new tariffs. (Xinhua/AFP)



Edited by Aaron Tam